SDSU EXAMINING WAYS TO INCREASE HOOPS FUNDING

Raising ticket prices most logical avenue

Shortly before the men’s basketball game against UNLV two Wednesdays ago, the Viejas Arena announcer informed the soldout crowd that San Diego State would remain in the Mountain West conference next season. People stood and cheered robustly.

Good thing they’re behind the decision. Because now they might help pay for it.

The reality of whatever SDSU did — stay in the Mountain West or continue with the planned move to a depleted Big East in football and Big West in most other sports — is as much as $5 million less per year in television revenue than initially projected. And less money ultimately trickles down to a men’s basketball program that on Monday ended a 23-week stay in the Associated Press Top 25 but is still No. 25 in the USA Today coaches poll.

“What we need to do is continue to build,” Athletic Director Jim Sterk said of his marquee program, on track for its fifth straight 25-win season and fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. “I don’t think we’ll go backwards. But we’re going to need the support of the entire community. We’re competing nationally now and we’re going to have to maintain funding on a national level.”

That’s a polite way of saying your season tickets might go up.

It would have been a tougher sell if basketball had landed in the Big West, a conference that was rated the 25th nationally the past two seasons and rarely brings Top 25 teams into your arena (or gym, in the case of the Big West). The Mountain West was No. 5 in conference RPI last year and is currently third this season, ahead of the ACC, Big 12 and Pac-12. Saturday’s opponent at Viejas, New Mexico, is 16-2 and ranked 15th.

“Our ticket prices are very low given that we’re a Top 25 program,” Sterk said. “We’re going to have to look at how we price tickets. I don’t want to gouge people. I don’t want to price us out of the market, but I’m going to have to look at (raising prices) going forward.”

Viejas Arena was sold out in August, with season tickets as low as $99 with no mandatory donation to an athletic foundation. A sideline seat midway up cost $280 plus $300 to the Aztec Club, or $580 total.

A comparable chairback location at New Mexico, including the mandatory contribution to the Lobo Club: $1,558.

New Mexico and UNLV both have venues with more capacity — 18,018 and 18,776 compared to 12,414 — that feature luxury suites. SDSU’s inventory is further reduced by the 2,500 tickets per game distributed free to students, part of the contract with the Associated Students who bankrolled Viejas Arena and pay athletic fees each semester in addition to tuition.

Sterk says he is evaluating other potential revenue streams, but his options are limited at a public university that has yet to gain national relevance (and riches) in football. Conservative estimates in December 2011, when SDSU announced its intention to join the Big East, were for $6.4 million per year in TV money; the new Mountain West deal, still being finalized, could be closer to $1 million or $2 million.